The Indiana General Assembly/Ivy Tech Community College connection grew closer last week with the appointment of former Republican lawmaker Tim Harris to Ivy Tech’s Corporate College.

The two-term state legislator from Marion was named associate vice president of sales and marketing for the Corporate College. He will earn $125,000 a year. Most recently, Harris was chief of staff for Rep. Marlin Stutzman, a former colleague in the General Assembly.

“Tim Harris was hired because of his business background and experience,” said Jeff Fanter, vice president of communications and marketing for Ivy Tech. “He brings a wealth of contacts and relationships to this position – which are the keys to success in Corporate College.”

The president of Ivy Tech’s Corporate College is former legislator Matt Bell, who earns $250,000 a year. Fanter said the Corporate College operation is self-sustaining.

Former state lawmaker Craig Fry is executive director of apprenticeship studies for the Corporate College.

Ivy Tech’s employee roster also includes current lawmakers Patrick Bauer, vice president of external partnerships; and Mike Karickhoff, executive director of facilities.

Indiana's Transparency Portal is "designed to give you, the Indiana taxpayer, an inside look into Indiana State Government spending and operations." The bottom part of this page "allows you to view salary information for employees and elected officials of the State of Indiana."

A search for "Patrick Bauer" will be unsuccessful, but "B Bauer" (as in "B. Patrick") reveals "B BAUER -- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES -- $57,330.86". Also this annotation: "Please note, for state legislators the results are total compensation from the previous calendar year. For all other employees, the results are annualized salaries from the most-recent payroll cycle."

The transparency portal does not include information about state college and university salaries. However, the Lafayette Journal Courier has a database of Ivy Tech salaries, 2011-12. It shows: "B. Pat Bauer --Vice Pres External Ptnrshps -- $96,465.00".